I moved away from Chicago about four years ago. I now find myself returning for brief (week or so long) consulting stints.

After a few days in the city, the skin around my eyes turns red and puffy. Hydrocortizone cream helps, sort of. This never happened to me in the 14 years I lived there. I do have an allergy to a pesticide that causes this, but I've been visiting in winter and haven't been near lawns, gardens or parks.

Someone told me this may be due to becoming accustomed to a place with clean air and suddenly getting exposed to nasty air. But I've taken long trips to other polluted cities (LA, Bangkok, Hong Kong) without a problem.

Anyone else experience this? Is it the difference in air quality or something else?